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Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Crime Intelligence division rocked by another scandal as its boss is arrested
South Africa's controversial Crime Intelligence unit is facing a fresh scandal. Its head, Dumisani Khumalo, has been arrested. While still a developing matter, the arrest has echoes of what happened to a former head of the division, Richard Mdluli, who is now a convict. Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, the head of the beleaguered Crime Intelligence (CI) division that he was meant to 'rejuvenate', has become the latest SA police officer to be arrested. Khumalo was taken into custody on Thursday. Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) spokesperson Henry Mamothame confirmed this, saying: 'Yes, he has been arrested, but we cannot provide details until he and others appear in court.' [WATCH] National Police Commissioner Gen. Fannie Masemola confirms the arrest of crime intelligence boss Maj-Gen. Dumisani Khumalo. #Newzroom405 — Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 26, 2025 It was not immediately clear in which court, and when, Khumalo would appear. While News24 reported that Khumalo was arrested in Gauteng, allegedly over unlawful senior appointments, several other controversial issues have cropped up before in relation to his name. More controversy, more accusations Khumalo's arrest is yet another clear indication that SA's critical Crime Intelligence arena remains in trouble — controversy, infighting and accusations of criminality have dogged it for years. This is especially concerning given its role. The South African Police Service's (SAPS) 2025/2026 annual performance plan describes this as being to: 'Manage crime intelligence and analyse crime information and provide technical support for investigations and crime prevention operations.' A Crime Intelligence division rocked by arrests and accusations weakens law enforcement. About two weeks ago, Crime Intelligence's chief financial officer, Major General Philani Lushaba, handed himself over to Idac. Lushaba and three other police officers face charges of corruption, perjury and defeating the ends of justice. News24 reported: 'The case is linked to an alleged cover-up of the theft of Lushaba's cellphone, police laptop and police-issued firearm in 2022. 'News24 understands Lushaba made misleading statements to the police initially, claiming his house was burgled. It later emerged [that] a sex worker took the items after a party at Lushaba's home.' Other suspicions hover above the Crime Intelligence arena. Luxury hotel and 'lacking transparency' On 6 June, the DA issued a statement referencing Lushaba and Khumalo and an Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI) probe. The statement said: 'The IGI has now completed this investigation, which centres on the purchase of a luxury boutique hotel in Pretoria North for R22.7-million, and a commercial property in Berea, Durban for R22.8-million — both funded by Crime Intelligence, allegedly without the required approvals. 'These purchases were reportedly authorised by Lushaba and Crime Intelligence head, Major General Dumisani Khumalo, without consulting the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure. 'The scale of spending, the lack of transparency, and the irregular process raise serious questions about possible corruption and abuse of public funds.' Earlier this year, Khumalo's name also cropped up in a policing scandal involving cocaine. Daily Maverick reported that Major General Feroz Khan, the head of counterintelligence and security at Crime Intelligence, had been cleared in that saga, which was tied to a 2021 cocaine interception in Johannesburg. Khan had said that Khumalo used the drug interception to try to get rid of him because of his investigations, with possible links to Khumalo, into the abuse of secret service funds. Police bosses, via court processes, denied that Khan was being dubiously targeted. Corruption and Crime Intelligence Khumalo became the head of Crime Intelligence in December 2022. Up until then, the division had been without a permanent boss for about two years. When National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola announced Khumalo's appointment, he said there was a perception that 'the whole of Crime Intelligence is corrupt'. Masemola countered that this was inaccurate because there were decent officers in the unit. He added that Khumalo, in his role as Crime Intelligence boss, would be supported, and that he was 'looking forward for [Khumalo] to rejuvenate that environment'. Based on the recent arrests and the accusations made about Crime Intelligence earlier this year, this does not seem to have happened. The division, meanwhile, has a much deeper history of scandal. Zuma's legacy Former president Jacob Zuma was inaugurated in 2009. Two months later, Richard Mdluli was appointed as head of Crime Intelligence. That did not go well. In 2011 he was arrested and faced 18 charges, including murder, kidnapping, intimidation and defeating the ends of justice relating to a 1999 killing. In 2019, Mdluli was convicted of kidnapping and assault. Mdluli is facing further charges linked to fraud and corruption, related to the looting of the secret service account. Last month, the National Prosecuting Authority issued a statement saying Mdluli and his co-accused had pleaded not guilty and included a brief description of the case. It said: 'Mdluli, together with the former … SAPS … Supply Chain Manager Heine Barnard and Chief Financial Officer Solomon Lazarus are facing charges of corruption, fraud and theft relating to the police's secret slush fund from the time they were employed by the … SAPS … in the Crime Intelligence Unit, between 2008 and 2012.' Suspended, transferred, 'targeted' There have been several other Crime Intelligence controversies. One of them involved Lieutenant General Peter Jacobs, who in 2018 was appointed as national Crime Intelligence head. Two years later Jacobs was suspended, along with a few other Crime Intelligence officers, over allegations of personal protective equipment procurement irregularities involving the secret service account and reportedly totalling nearly R1-million. In 2021 Jacobs' suspension was lifted, but instead of being allowed to return to work as national Crime Intelligence head, he was told to return as Inspectorate head. This was widely viewed as Jacobs being sidelined. In an affidavit at the time, Jacobs said he felt he was being targeted because of protected disclosures he had made relating to corruption within the police service, including 'wide-scale' corruption in Crime Intelligence involving millions of rands. The transfer of Jacobs from the post of national Crime Intelligence head in 2021 paved the way for Khumalo to fill the position. Khumalo's arrest adds to the Crime Intelligence controversies. It also leaves questions about the leadership of the division meant to be actively preventing crime and cracking down on criminals. DM
The Citizen
10-06-2025
- The Citizen
DA claims on missing official not true
Police say they are unaware of the alleged disappearance of Major-General Philani Lushaba, the CFO of SAPS Crime Intelligence, despite reports that he has failed to report for duty and cannot be reached. According to the DA's Dianne Kohler-Barnard, Lushaba went missing on June 6, the very day the National Prosecuting Authority's Investigating Directorate was expected to question him about his alleged involvement in irregular property acquisitions worth more than R45-million. She confirmed to Rekord that on June 10, his whereabouts were still unknown. These purchases, currently under scrutiny, include a luxury boutique hotel in Nina Park, reportedly bought for R22.7-million, and a commercial property in Berea, Durban, acquired for R22.8-million. 'The hotel in Pretoria North, which includes four dining rooms, a gym, and a swimming pool, was previously used by businessmen visiting nearby Rosslyn,' said Kohler-Barnard. 'It is deeply concerning that such an extravagant purchase was made while many police officers, including senior Crime Intelligence members, are reportedly working from broken furniture in dilapidated offices or, in some cases, from their vehicles.' She said both transactions were allegedly authorised by Lushaba and Crime Intelligence head Major-General Dumisani Khumalo, without the required consent from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. At the time when these acquisitions became public, Kohler-Barnard called for an investigation by the Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI) and such an investigation was launched, focusing on what she explained as the misuse of state funds. The IGI's report has since been concluded, but has not yet been made public. Kohler-Barnard also raised concerns about whether the necessary steps were taken to seek available government-owned properties before resorting to purchasing high-end private assets. 'Did the Crime Intelligence Unit approach the Minister of Public Works to find a suitable existing facility for its needs? That remains unanswered,' she said. James de Villiers, spokesman for the Public Works minister, confirmed to Rekord at the time of the call for the investigation that no such request had been received. Despite the gravity of the claims, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the police are 'unaware of the disappearance of any senior manager'. The DA has submitted urgent parliamentary questions to the Minister of Police to determine the full contents of the IGI's report and whether further misconduct has been uncovered. The party is also writing to the chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence to request that top SAPS Crime Intelligence officials be summoned before Parliament to account for the scandal. She said the incident has reignited concerns about endemic corruption within SAPS Crime Intelligence, a unit long dogged by allegations of misconduct, including under former disgraced head Richard Mdluli. 'The IGI's report must serve as a line in the sand,' the DA said. 'Without swift action to purge senior management of corrupt elements, there is little hope of restoring credibility to SAPS' intelligence function or protecting South Africans from the threat of organised crime and state capture.' Kohler-Barnard confirmed that the Crime Intelligence head, who allegedly has also been probed in the property deal investigation, is at work. The National Coloured Congress (NCC) accused the DA on June 9 of falsely claiming credit for filing fraud, nepotism, and obstruction of justice charges against senior police officials. NCC leader Fadiel Adams criticised the DA and stated it was he who initially had laid the charges against senior SAPS figures, condemning the DA for shielding crime yet taking credit when exposed. Kohler-Barnard said that when she first became aware of the property purchases, she asked the office of the IGI to investigate. 'He has completed his investigation and has given me permission in writing to speak as I have. I have no knowledge of what Mr Adams does or does not do. He is not a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence.' Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
